D.R. team trip update

From: lisa robbins
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 8:58 PM
To: Andrea Stross

Hello everyone,
We just wanted to send you the latest update from the DR. Yesterday we began our day at the work site, working on our main project, which is rebuilding a house. While we were doing that, we had a chance to observe the neighborhood and interact with the people here, especially the children. It was very overwhelming to take everything in. The conditions they live in, to us, would be unbearable, but the joy that surrounds them is evident in everything they do. It was a very interesting and emotional experience.

After dinner, we hosted the ladies' night, which went very well. We had devotions with the ladies, and then we had three crafts for them to work on, which they really enjoyed. We were touched by the fact that it's the simple things in life that seem to make them happy. They treasured their paper flowers and the bracelets they made like they were gold.

On Sunday (today), we started the day in Madre, which is a very remote town 40 minutes away from Monte Cristi. We visited with the people there and invited them to a church service, where we also did a puppet show for the kids. The children latched on to us the moment we arrived and walked us hand in hand through their village, and they really seemed to enjoy the time we spent with them.

We then headed off to a private baptism back in Monte Cristi, which Claudine and Lisa decided to participate in. It was a beautiful experience shared by all.

Afterwards we made a visit to the childrens' ward of the local hospital. Luckily, there weren't many sick children, but we perfomed the puppet show again for the few that were there.

Then we attended the weekly church service in Monte Cristi and enjoyed the fellowship with the locals.
We end each day with team time, where we can share our feelings of the day and a little bit about what we've been experiencing. In just two days, we all agree that we are growing tremendously in God's love!
We look forward to giving you another update soon.
Blessings,
The Dominican Republic Team